List of All Articles with Tag 'football'

England host Italy at Wembley on Tuesday night knowing victory over the Azzurri will ensure qualification to Euro 2024. Gareth Southgate’s side won 2-1 in Naples in March and now could wrap up qualification with another success against the defending champions. Here, the PA news agency takes a look at some of the main talking points ahead of the clash. Arch rivals This will be the first clash between the two nations at Wembley since the Euro 2020 final – which Italy won on penalties. Since then the sides have met on three occasions, twice in the Nations League before the fixture in Italy earlier this year. England will be keen to exact a level of revenge on Tuesday night in a match which will have an impact on the outcome of the group. Regular faces to return After making 10 changes for Friday’s 1-0 friendly win over Australia, Southgate will no doubt bring back his big-hitters for the one competitive game of the October international break. The team performance in the narrow victory will not have seen many of the rotated side push to replace the more established order. Captain Harry Kane was an unused substitute against the Socceroos and will lead the line with the likes of Jordan Pickford, Kyle Walker, Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham, who were not involved on Friday, returning. Jordan jeered off again? Friday’s friendly against Australia saw Jordan Henderson line-up on home soil for the first time since his controversial summer switch from Liverpool to Saudi Arabian side Al-Ettifaq. Henderson has been a high-profile supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and last month apologised for any hurt he caused by moving to a country where homosexuality is illegal. The stand-in skipper’s name was met by murmurs before kick-off and the midfielder ended up being booed when substituted, with Southgate left angry by a reaction he felt “defies logic”. It remains to be seen, however, if the 33-year-old features against Italy, whether fans will respond in the same way. Pressure off in November Victory over Italy would seal England’s berth at Euro 2024 with two games of qualification still to play. Those fixtures see Southgate’s side host minnows Malta at Wembley next month before travelling to face North Macedonia, who could still have an outside chance of reaching the finals themselves. Going into those two games with the ability to experiment and look at players without the pressure of needing the points would be a handy outcome for Southgate, who has so little time to do so leading up to the finals. Unsure Azzurri Southgate said Italy have been “revitalised” under new head coach Luciano Spalletti, but defeat in London could cost the visitors dear. They may have lifted the European Championship at Wembley two years ago but they went on to miss out on the 2022 World Cup and have Ukraine – and to a lesser extent North Macedonia – to keep at bay. Ukraine travel to Malta on Tuesday and will leapfrog Italy into second place if they better the result of Spalletti’s men, meaning their showdown meeting in Leverkusen in the final round of fixtures could essentially be a play-off to make it to Euro 2024. Read More England fight off early Rahmanullah Gurbaz threat to limit Afghanistan to 284 Josh Adams believes Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake are ‘massive figureheads’ for Wales Sam Tomkins ready for family time after ‘selfish’ season ends in heartbreak Jordan Pickford insists England are not looking for revenge against Italy Andy Farrell believes spirit of outgoing Johnny Sexton can spur Ireland on Rangers appoint former Club Brugge boss Philippe Clement as new manager

Anyone who has ever been to Lubbock knows that you're bound to see some things when you're down there so a football player snagging a bird during pregame warmup

After a hugely hyped Week 5 Sunday night matchup turned into a blowout, Week 6 doesn't look much better in terms of competitiveness.

Rangers have confirmed the appointment of Philippe Clement as their new manager. The 49-year-old arrives at Ibrox following the departure of Michael Beale at the start of the month. After playing at Genk and Club Brugge, Clement has won the Belgian Pro League as a manager with both teams and had Champions League experience with Brugge.

Jordan Pickford will head into Tuesday’s crunch Euro 2024 qualifier against Italy looking forward rather than back. The Everton goalkeeper was between the posts when Italy beat England on penalties to win Euro 2020 at Wembley. Pickford was rested for Friday’s 1-0 friendly win over Australia, but is expected to return for the visit of the Azzurri – where victory would secure Gareth Southgate’s side a place at next summer’s finals in Germany. Since suffering Euro 2020 heartbreak, England have met Italy twice in the Nations League and also won 2-1 in Naples in the reverse qualifying fixture. Now it is that prospect of another shot of international success – and not seeking payback for the heartache of two years ago – that Pickford insists is driving the team heading into the game. “We know where we are in the world rankings and we know where we want to be. To do that, these are the teams you have to beat,” he said. “I don’t think this game has anything to do with revenge. We went to Italy and made a bit of history, having gone so many years without beating them away from home. This is all about qualifying for Germany. It’s another hurdle we have got to get past Jordan Pickford “This is another tough game. They’ve got a new manager, played well in the last break, and we know they are a top side. “This is all about qualifying for Germany. It’s another hurdle we have got to get past and we’ll be going for the victory.” Pickford revealed there has never been much of a debrief on the shoot-out loss in 2021 and was more upset with the performance in last winter’s World Cup – praising England for brushing themselves off so quickly to work towards Euro 2024 qualification. “We never really touched base on that Euro final,” he added. “There was more disappointment in Qatar, getting beat in the quarters, and then coming back straight into two competitive games. “That just shows you the characters we are and the type of squad and togetherness we have to beat Ukraine and then beat Italy in their own backyard in Naples in a hostile environment. “That shows you what kind of squad we are and I think the fans love it. “Every time we put the shirt on we wear it with massive amounts of pride. “To beat Italy in Naples was a great feeling, but they’re coming into our backyard now and they will want revenge. “We just want to put on a performance, be at our best, and get a result to qualify. “They are reigning European champions and are a top side. We only focus on ourselves. “We look at what’s in front of us and we will always back ourselves to beat any team because we are fully prepared and have a lot of experience and ability.” Read More Andy Farrell believes spirit of outgoing Johnny Sexton can spur Ireland on Rangers appoint former Club Brugge boss Philippe Clement as new manager Michael O’Neill hoping to take ‘good feeling’ into Slovenia game Glittering career ends with tears for retiring Ireland captain Johnny Sexton Joe Root dismisses ODI retirement talk with next Cricket World Cup in his plans Ben Stokes ‘getting better day by day’ but Afghanistan game could come too soon

Michael O’Neill knows Saturday’s 3-0 win over San Marino was only a small step forward for his Northern Ireland side but it is still one he said can be important for a young and developing side. Paul Smyth got a goal and an assist on his first international start while there was also a first Northern Ireland goal for Conor McMenamin, with Josh Magennis getting another in a comfortable win at Windsor Park. But while Northern Ireland were always in control, 2-0 up after 11 minutes, the limitations which have seen their qualifying campaign unravel with five straight defeats since an opening victory over the same opposition in March were again on show in an often unexciting display. Northern Ireland finished the match with five players eligible for the under-21s on the pitch, once more deprived of much-needed experience by their long injury list. “For a number of our players they won’t have won a lot of games in international football, they’ve not played a lot of games in international football and they’ve not won a lot, so any win is positive,” O’Neill said. “It’s a good feeling, you feel it in the dressing room. We can take that feeling into Tuesday night’s game (against Slovenia) when there’s a team coming who have got a lot to play for.” Having raced into an early lead and then seen a 31st-minute strike from star man Smyth eventually disallowed for offside after a long VAR check, Northern Ireland lost momentum and the atmosphere fell flat before McMenamin completed the scoring in the 81st minute. This was only Northern Ireland’s third win in their last 18 games at Windsor Park but even then the crowd was quiet, artificially boosted at one point by the sound of chanting being played on the PA system. That reflected Northern Ireland’s standing in Group H, where the only team they have avoided defeat against is the one ranked 207th and last in the world. “All we can do is just continue to work with the players, build them up, try and get confidence,” O’Neill added. Results help build belief in what you're doing and that's the biggest thing the win will give us, a little bit of belief Michael O'Neill “When you’re working with a new group of players and working on how you want to play as a team, results help build belief in what you’re doing and that’s the biggest thing the win will give us, a little bit of belief. “The work we did in the week was pretty much how the opening two goals were scored and that’s something the players took well into the game.” Talk of the injuries that have ravaged Northern Ireland’s campaign is nothing new, but there is no denying their impact and it extends well beyond the headlines names of Steven Davis, Stuart Dallas, and Corry Evans, stretching deep into Northern Ireland’s limited reserves. “Even if you look at Conor Bradley, he’s only played three games for us in this campaign and that’s probably all he will play if I’m honest,” O’Neill added of the Liverpool wing-back. “November will be very touch and go for Conor. That makes it difficult.” The hope for O’Neill and Northern Ireland is that there is something to be gained down the line as so many of those players still around from the famous Euro 2016 campaign near the end of the road. “We have to use what we have done, mainly through necessity, to take us forward because the players we talk about that are missing, we’re not really sure how long they will continue to play for at international level,” the manager added. “We’ve already seen Craig (Cathcart) retire. These players won’t continue forever. “What we have to do between now and March 2025 when World Cup qualification starts is we’ve got to get as much international football into these young players as possible because they will probably form the foundation and the backbone of the team.” Read More Glittering career ends with tears for retiring Ireland captain Johnny Sexton Joe Root dismisses ODI retirement talk with next Cricket World Cup in his plans Ben Stokes ‘getting better day by day’ but Afghanistan game could come too soon PA Sport Trivia (16/10/2023) On this day in 2004: Andy Robinson appointed as England head coach Tommy Fury claims points victory over YouTube star KSI

Week 7 of the 2023 college football season is now in the books for the Top 25 teams in the country and we know quite a bit more than we did previously. USC is,

Projecting the AP Top 25 college football rankings for Week 8 after Notre Dame flat-out embarrassed USC, Washington outlasted Oregon in Seattle, UNC made a statement against Miami, and much more on Saturday.

Washington beat Oregon in a shootout of a game that came down to the closing seconds. What are the three reasons that they won this game?

The college football rankings should reward Washington for their win over Oregon but how far can the Huskies rise and how far will the Ducks fall?

The Georgia Bulldogs bested Vanderbilt but they lost star tight end Brock Bowers to injury during the course of the game. Kirby Smart updated his status.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos are now in line to buy an initial 25 per cent stake in Manchester United, with the decision set to be ratified at a club board meeting this week. The billionaire petrochemicals mogul wants this to be a “path to a majority”, according to involved figures, and will already be seeking influence on football decisions. While Sheikh Jassim’s withdrawal was confirmed on Saturday evening, this has been interpreted as “face-saving”, as the ultimately underwhelming Qatari bid had been tactically outmanoeuvred by Ineos. It had long been felt by those with knowledge of Ratcliffe’s bid that Avram and Joel Glazer would ultimately never agree on a full sale now – preventing the unanimity required – which led the Ineos bid to pursue alternative options. Ratcliffe’s decision to go for a 25 per cent minority stake, valued at around £1.3bn, was seen as bringing a breakthrough in the last month while also staving off any concerns about legal challenges if he went for the Glazers’ 67 per cent. The owners of A shares had been willing to go to litigation if Ratcliffe only agreed to purchase the more powerful B shares, but he will now purchase a mix. Qatar never budged from only wanting a full sale but their offer of around £5bn was consistently seen as surprisingly low, and figures involved always found it confusing as to why the Jassim-fronted bid went no higher given the obvious prestige of such a club. One figure with knowledge of the Qatari side insisted that some of it came down to the perception of getting a good deal and not being seen to overpay. The irony is that one reason Joel and Avram Glazer have been so reluctant to sell is because they still expect an explosion in valuation over the next decade. Read More Sheikh Jassim withdraws from Manchester United takeover process Sheikh Jassim withdraws offer to buy Manchester United over Glazers’ high price Daniel James insists Wales can still qualify for Euro 2024